CHARLOTTESVILLE - Five members of the Virginia men's soccer team earned 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic Region honors, the organization announced Thursday (Dec. 10). Greg Monaco and Tony Tchani were first team selections, Will Bates was a second team selection and Ross LaBauex and Diego Restrepo were named to the third team.

Monaco (Virginia Beach, Va.) has started each of the Cavaliers' 23 matches on defense while contributing one goal and one assist. He has anchored a UVa defense that ranks first in the nation in team goals-against average (0.29) and that has posted 16 shutouts on the season. It is the first NSCAA regional honor for the sophomore Monaco.

Tchani (Norfolk, Va.) adds his first team honor to a list of season accolades that includes being a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. The sophomore has started 21 games for the Cavaliers and ranks second on the team with seven goals and four assists. He was a ACC All-Tournament team member, a second team All-ACC honoree this season and the 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year. It is Tchani's second NSCAA regional honor, as he was also named to the first team in 2008.

Bates (Chester, Va.) leads the Cavaliers with 12 goals and an assist in his freshman season. He was a member of the ACC All-Tournament team, the All-ACC second team and the ACC All-Freshmen team and had a hat trick vs. Bucknell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

LaBauex (Chicago, Ill.) has started all 20 games he has appeared in this season, scoring one goal and tallying one assist. A senior captain, it is LaBauex's first NSCAA regional honor.

Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) has started 22 of the Cavaliers' 23 games in goal. A junior, Restrepo was named the ACC Tournament's Most Valuable Player after shutting out three-straight opponents en route to the conference crown. Entering Friday's national semifinal vs. Wake Forest, Restrepo has a streak of 1,107 scoreless minutes and 11-consecutive shutouts.

The Cavaliers begin play in the 2009 NCAA College Cup on Friday (Dec. 11) vs. Wake Forest at 5 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.